Typical values from 28 sampled wells in Bradford County · Full groundwater profile
What Are You Noticing in Your Water?
Pre-selected from Bradford County well data. Untick anything you do not notice in your own water.
Based on the contaminants most commonly reported in this region. Always confirm with a certified lab water test before buying equipment.
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Explore Bradford County and nearby counties
Bradford County has one of the highest rates of private well reliance in North Central Florida, with 83.2% of built parcels drawing drinking water from an onsite well rather than a public utility, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Bradford County is Florida’s smallest county by land area, wedged between Union and Clay counties, and like the rest of this region, its groundwater comes from the Floridan Aquifer, a limestone formation that shapes which well water problems show up most often here.
In this guide
Groundwater Profile: Bradford County
Most groundwater pumped in Bradford County comes from the Floridan Aquifer (USGS, 2015 withdrawals). Across 28 sampled wells, the median hardness is 9.3 gpg, which the USGS classes as hard. It applies to wells across Bradford County, including around Starke, Lawtey and Hampton.
What shows up in local well samples:
- HardnessMedian 9.3 gpg; 86% of 28 sampled wells above 7 gpg
Calcium and magnesium dissolved from limestone. Leaves scale on fixtures and water heaters and reduces soap lather. Not a health risk.
Water softener sizing - IronMedian 0.36 mg/L; 54% of 28 sampled wells above 0.3 mg/L
Stains sinks, toilets and laundry orange-brown and can taste metallic. The EPA aesthetic guideline is 0.3 mg/L. See how to choose an iron filter for your test result.
Iron filter sizing guide
Hydrogen sulfide (the rotten-egg smell) was measured in only 0 Bradford County wells, too few to say how common it is. Limited local data (fewer than 20 samples): individual well testing recommended. If you notice the smell, a sulfide test confirms it.
How Bradford County Compares to Florida and the U.S.
See How Bradford County Compares to Florida & the US
| Share of wells with… | Bradford CountyBradford | FloridaFL | United StatesUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard water (above 7 gpg) | 86% | 79% | 60% |
| Iron above 0.3 mg/L | 54% | 35% | 19% |
| Manganese above 0.05 mg/L | Limited data | 8% | 21% |
| Dissolved solids above 500 mg/L | 0% | 22% | 15% |
| Acidic water (pH below 6.5) | 4% | 15% | 14% |
| Nitrate above 10 mg/L (EPA limit) | No data | 2% | 4% |
| Arsenic above 10 µg/L (EPA limit) | 4% | 3% | 7% |
| Median hardness | 9.3 gpg | 12.4 gpg | — |
| Median pH | 7.5 | 7.2 | 7.3 |
Bradford County and Florida: share of sampled wells (all well types, samples since 2000) whose typical value exceeds the level, from the Water Quality Portal. United States: USGS Circular 1332, about 2,100 domestic wells in 48 states sampled 1991 to 2004. Well types and years differ, so read this as a broad comparison. Highlighted cells are well above the national share.
See what a typical Bradford County well needs
Opens the diagnostic calculator with Bradford County median values (9.3 gpg hardness, 0.36 ppm iron, pH 7.5) for a 3–4 person home. Swap in your own lab results for an exact plan.
Testing Your Well in Bradford County
The Florida Department of Health in Bradford County oversees private well permitting in the county and investigates suspected contamination. For routine bacteria, nitrate or full-panel tests, use a laboratory certified by the Florida Department of Health.
What to test for in Bradford County:
- Bacteria (total coliform and E. coli) and nitrate, at least once a year (Florida Department of Health recommendation)
- Hardness in grains per gallon (gpg) to size a softener
- Iron and manganese before choosing a filter
- After any flood, new well work or a change in taste, color or smell
The Florida Department of Health in Bradford County can explain how to collect samples and where to send them. Statewide guidance is on the FDOH private well testing page, and our guide to how to test well water covers which tests to order.
Nearby Counties
Bradford County borders these counties with published reports:
Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is well water in Bradford County?
Groundwater samples from 28 wells in Bradford County have a median hardness of 9.3 grains per gallon (160 mg/L), which the USGS classes as hard. About 86% of sampled wells are above 7 gpg, the point where a water softener is usually worthwhile. The Florida statewide median is 12.4 gpg.
Is iron a problem in Bradford County well water?
The median iron level across 28 sampled wells is 0.36 mg/L, above the EPA aesthetic guideline of 0.3 mg/L, and 54% of wells exceed it. Orange staining is common, and an iron filter sized to your test result is the usual fix.
Why does my well water smell like rotten eggs in Bradford County?
Hydrogen sulfide (the rotten-egg smell) was measured in only 0 Bradford County wells, too few to say how common it is. Limited local data (fewer than 20 samples): individual well testing recommended. If you notice the smell, a sulfide test confirms it. The smell is a nuisance rather than a health risk at typical levels.
Which aquifer supplies wells in Bradford County?
Most groundwater pumped in Bradford County comes from the Floridan Aquifer (USGS, 2015 withdrawals).
Does boiling well water make it safe to drink in Bradford County?
Only if bacteria are the problem. A one-minute rolling boil kills germs, but it does not remove nitrate, arsenic or other chemicals, and it concentrates them as water evaporates. Test first, and see our boiling well water myth buster for when boiling helps.
Why does Bradford County have so many private wells?
Rural counties like Bradford often fall outside the service area of any municipal water utility, so new homes are built with an onsite well by default. The Florida Department of Health’s 2022 parcel mapping found 83.2% of built parcels here on private wells.
Do I need to test my well water if my neighbors say theirs is fine?
Yes. Well depth, casing condition, and the exact aquifer layer tapped can vary block to block, so one neighbor’s clean test does not guarantee another’s. A full annual test is the only reliable way to know what is in your own water.
Is Floridan Aquifer water generally safe to drink untreated?
Much of it is chemically safe but aesthetically unpleasant (hard, sulfur-smelling, or iron-stained), which is why treatment here is usually about comfort and plumbing protection rather than an acute health risk. A lab test is still the only way to rule out bacteria, nitrates, or other contaminants specific to your well.
Written by Well Water Advisor Editorial Team.